Negative Liberty: Public Opinion and the Terrorist Attacks on America

Appendix A: Terror Event Timeline

225 Appendix A Terror Event Timeline Table A.1 Timeline 2001 11-Sep World Trade Center and Pentagon struck by airplanes 14-Sep President at Ground Zero: “The people who knocked these buildings down will hear all of us soon.” 20-Sep President speaks to the nation in Joint Session of Congress 5-Oct Anthrax death: Robert Stevens first of five to die, awakens national concern about bioterrorism 7-Oct Invasion of Afghanistan (“Operation Enduring Freedom”) 8-Oct Office of Homeland Security set up in White House, headed by Tom Ridge 26-Oct President signs USA Patriot Act after overwhelming support in Congress 12-Nov Taliban flee Kabul, Northern Alliance enters on 13-November 12-Nov AA Flight 587 crashes shortly after takeoff from LaGuardia, initial concern it is caused by terrorists 22-Dec “Shoe bomber” Richard Reid attempts to blow up Paris to Miami flight, subdued by crew 2002 17-Jan Ashcroft, Mueller news conf.—release tapes recovered from rubble of Afghanistan, name suspects 25-Jan Ashcroft, Mueller news conf—release photos of five suspected terrorists 29-Jan Ashcroft press release announces heightened security at Winter Olympics 29-Jan Bush State of Union: “states in the…axis of evil…pose a grave and growing danger.” 3-Feb Terrorism alert (before the color-coded scheme introduced) 8-Feb Winter Olympic Games open in Salt Lake City 24-Feb Winter Olympic Games end 27-Feb Terrorism alert ends 12-Mar Color-coded “Homeland Security Advisory System” created by presidential order 26-Aug Cheney to VFW in Nashville: “The risks of inaction are far greater than the risks of action” in Iraq. 10-Sep Orange alert – anniversary of 9/11 (first actual use of colorcoded system) 12-Sep Bush to UN General Assembly: Iraqi regime a threat to the UN and to peace 24-Sep Alert back to yellow 4-Oct “Shoe bomber” pleads guilty, sentenced to 20 years 11-Oct Congress authorizes the use of U.S. military force against Iraq 12-Oct Jemaah Islamiyah terrorist bomb in Bali nightclub kills 202 people 25-Nov Homeland Security Act signed by President, authorizes Dept. of Homeland Security 2003 24-Jan Dept. of Homeland Security (DHS) opens, ending WH Office of Homeland Security 29-Jan Bush State of Union: “If Saddam Hussein does not fully disarm we will lead a coalition to disarm him.” 5-Feb Colin Powell addresses UN Security Council on Iraq denial and deception on WMD 7-Feb Orange alert (run on sales of duct tape and plastic sheeting) 13-Feb Law enforcement, Americans brace for imminent attack on NY, DC, or FL: “dirty bomb scare” 27-Feb Alert back to yellow 1-Mar DHS absorbs 180,000 employees from other agencies and offices 1-Mar Announcement of arrest of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed in Pakistan 17-Mar Bush 48-hour ultimatum to Saddam Hussein 17-Mar Orange alert (DHS announces “Operation Liberty Shield”) 19-Mar Bush speech from Oval Office (bombs over Baghdad 20 Mar) (“Operation Iraqi Freedom”) 25-Mar Texas oil plants on terror alert 9-Apr Saddam Hussein statue pulled down in Firdos Square in Baghdad 11-Apr 101st Airborne enters Baghdad 16-Apr Alert back to yellow 1-May Bush on deck of USS Abraham Lincoln, declares “major combat operations in Iraq have ended” 12-May Bombings in Saudi Arabia (May 12), Morocco (May 16) 20-May Orange alert—Boston, NY, in wake of Saudi Arabia and Morocco bombings 30-May Alert back to yellow 22-Jul Saddam Hussein’s sons killed in shoot-out with American troops in Mosul 4-Sep DHS warning of al Qaeda plans to hijack airliners between international points and U.S. 21-Nov DHS urges vigilance in holiday season, refers to aircraft and chemical/hazmat facilities 13-Dec Saddam Hussein rooted out of spider hole 21-Dec Orange alert—“chatter” suggests could be holiday attack 226 Negative Liberty 2004 9-Jan Alert back to yellow, but stays orange for NYC, LA, DC, and Las Vegas 11-Mar Madrid train bombings kill 191, injure 2,000 (no Orange Alert) 24-Mar Richard Clarke testimony before 9/11 Commission 8-Apr Condoleezza Rice testimony before 9/11 Commission 29-Apr Bush and Cheney testimony before 9/11 Commission in closeddoor session 26-May Ashcroft warning of terrorist plans related to coming major political events 28-May Ashcroft-Ridge joint press release strikes calmer tone 25-Jun AP...